LEICESTER CATHEDRAL OPENS ITS DOORS FOR AN OPEN CONVERSATION ON FAITH
Opal22 and Professor Anthony G. Reddie invite Leicester to a free, open conversation about faith, history and the Church of England’s colonial past – hosted in partnership with Leicester Cathedral
Opal22 Arts and Edutainment will bring one of Britain’s leading Black theologians to Leicester Cathedral this Black History Month, as the city hosts a free public event examining the Church of England’s role in the transatlantic slave trade – and what an honest, shared understanding of that history can look like today.
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Faith, Empire and Healing, organised by Leicester-based Opal22 Arts and Edutainment, will take place at Leicester Cathedral on Thursday 8 October, bringing Professor Anthony G. Reddie – Professor of Black Theology at the University of Oxford and Director of the Oxford Centre for Religion and Culture – to the city for an evening of discussion, reflection and participation.
The event will examine how the Church of England was entangled in the systemic racism and abuse experienced by enslaved Africans during the era of the Transatlantic slave trade, and the legacy of that entanglement today – and how faith communities today can respond with honesty, openness and hope.
Leicester Cathedral’s willingness to open its doors for this conversation reflects a genuine, shared commitment to engaging honestly with this history.
Rather than simply looking back at this history, the event will explore what comes next, asking how institutions, communities and individuals can better understand this legacy and contribute to meaningful change.
Tara Munroe, Founder & CEO of Opal22 Arts & Edutainment, said:
“Black History Month gives us an opportunity not only to celebrate Black history and culture, but to have honest conversations about the histories and institutions that have shaped the society we live in today.
“Faith, Empire and Healing is about creating space for those conversations. We want people to come with an open mind, listen, ask questions and think about what healing and meaningful change can look like.
“Holding this conversation inside Leicester Cathedral matters. It means the Church isn’t just being spoken about, but is opening its own doors to be part of the conversation – and that takes courage on both sides.”
Professor Anthony G. Reddie said:
“I am looking forward to joining friends and colleagues at this landmark event in Leicester next month. The complicated relationship between the Church of England and the centuries of systemic racism and abuse experienced by enslaved Africans during the epoch of the Transatlantic slave trade is an ongoing narrative that is in need of further exploration.
“I see my task as assisting in sharing aspects of this story and offering greater insight and truth than has often been the case hitherto. As my dear Mother used to remark when we were small, ‘Half the story has never been told.’”
The evening will combine discussion with an interactive workshop, giving attendees the opportunity to reflect on the themes explored and consider their own relationship with history, faith and community.
As part of the event, Opal22 will also introduce its Tree of Life, a growing installation inviting visitors to add their own thoughts, reflections and hopes for the future.
The event forms part of Opal22’s wider Black History Month 2026 programme, which explores Black history, arts, culture and heritage across Leicester throughout October.
Other events include Windrush: The Legacy, a free exhibition opening at The Newarke on 15 October, featuring portraits, personal stories, photographs and first-hand recordings from Leicester’s Windrush generation; Wear Your Roots, a family-friendly natural dye and art workshop on 24 October; and An Evening with Gerard Alfonzo Daley at Leicester Central Library on 28 October.
The programme will also feature two digital projects: Around the Table: Across Generations, a four-week podcast series bringing different generations together to discuss Black British life, and Breaking the Barriers, exploring the history behind inequalities in education, housing, healthcare and the economy.
